All my AI workflows

Construction and content marketing, language learning and financial advice: how LLMs have transformed my life—and why I keep them away from this newsletter

Large language models like ChatGPT and Claude have absolutely transformed my life and work.

The other day I sat down next to my friend and walked him through recent use cases for AI from my life, and his mind was blown. Not just at the power of the tools, but the broad scope of things I’m using them for.

Note: this post is an experiment off the beaten path for this newsletter, which is part of why I’m adding a paywall a little ways down. But a lot of people ask me about this stuff—and I’ve been using the tools almost daily since they were released—and after dozens of sit-down conversations with friends and family, I’ve never failed to blow someone’s mind with how I’m using AI. So here goes.

I’m going to explain all the things below, but here’s a preview:

• AI is playing “general contractor assistant” in my Spain renovation. I’ll explain how I’m using Claude’s projects function to do research on materials and building techniques.

• AI is displacing most of my personal Google searches. This is why AI is a mortal threat to Google. I’ll explain how I approach everything from travel and relationship advice to financial planning and health.

• AI has 4x’d productivity in my content marketing business. I’ll explain how my workflows have evolved, including what I do now with ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to deliver content and strategy for marketing clients. (Paid subscribers)

• AI is enabling me to expand my business for the first time in four years. Plus: what it’s like to use ChatGPT’s o1 Pro, including “Deep Research” for client work. (Paid subscribers)

To me, it’s just totally obvious that these tools are game-changers for civilization.

In your own life, if you’re smart about it, you’ll use LLMs for what they are: the most powerful all-purpose personal assistant the world has ever known. And at $20/month (or $200/month for ChatGPT o1 Pro—I’ll get to that), this is the most dramatically underpriced access to a superpower I can imagine.

I’m not trying to be some booster for AI—indeed, I’m the first to be threatened by Large Language Models. I have every incentive to ignore or downplay their significance, as they essentially supplant my core contribution to the economy for the last 20 years. i.e., being able to consistently write clear and compelling copy day in and day out.

Yet maybe it’s exactly because I am a writer that I recognized early just how transformative AI would be. For 15 years, I’d rested easy knowing a machine could never do what I could. Then two and a half years ago, I saw the first version of ChatGPT churn out a decent press release in a few seconds—basically an entry-level copywriting skill. It’s exactly what I got paid to do as Deputy Press Secretary for a U.S. Senate campaign in 2008, only back then it took me 20 minutes to punch them out—and I was (and still am) considered an extremely fast writer.

Anyway, from there the tools only got better and better.

Today, I’d estimate AI can do a better job than perhaps the bottom 80% of writers in the world at nearly all their writing tasks.

And again, it’s only getting better. So this is as real as it gets folks. The disruption is already here. In fact, I’m participating in it.

I. Why I write this newsletter

But before I go further, I want to make one thing clear: I have never used any AI to help write this newsletter, and I don’t think I ever will. I’m not trying to signal or brag or anything—it’s just that using AI to write Post-Nomad would defeat the whole purpose.

I do this for play. I write here to flex the creative muscle. I would do this even if I were retired with millions in the bank. I enjoy getting more subscribers, sure—it means my writing is having more impact. I enjoy even more when people email me in response to posts that have resonated with them.

Telling me you like my writing is my love language.

But this newsletter only generates around 1% of my total income, which is just fine with me. I like that I can continue to play here without regard to whether any of my choices will impact my financial security. This newsletter is where I write for writing’s sake.

So again, using AI would defeat the whole purpose.

One last thing before I jump in: it’s not lost on me that I am exercising a creative muscle that may not be needed at all in the future, and therefore a muscle that will atrophy in the vast majority of humans. “You must learn how to write” has always been great career advice—but I’m not sure it’s relevant now.

In any case, I’ll be happy to be one of the rare few who can still write human-made sentences in the future, whether that skill is economically valued or not.

II. How I’m using AI to assist with the Spain renovation

If you have a long, technical document (or several) that you consult over and over as a reference for anything, there’s a good bet you should create a Project in either ChatGPT or Claude, and upload said document as so-called “project knowledge.”

In the case of the Spain renovation, I found myself doing this over and over with my architect’s “tecnica.” This is a 54-page PDF document that he created as a guide for the builders and as part of the application to the town for the building permit.

The tecnica includes:

• Dimensions & floorplans for the entire 4-story structure

• A step-by-step description of works to be completed

• Addendums of building materials, notably the specific roofing panels to be used

Once I translated this from Catalan into English (using Google Translate’s document upload feature), I uploaded the English version to a new project in Claude and started asking questions.

I have long threads going back and forth with Claude about building techniques, and I’m able to ask specific questions about my project because it already knows everything about my plans.

For example:

1. I engaged Claude in a long discussion about “warm roofs” vs. “cold roofs” as it pertained to my rooftop terrace—a crucial decision that will determine which materials to buy, and how it will be insulated.

2. I used Claude to research specific building materials only available in Spanish supply stores. I did this by downloading the spec sheets from Bauhaus, translating them from Catalan, and then uploading them to Claude. Afterward, we had discussions about whether specific products were appropriate for my use cases.¹

3. I use Claude to brainstorm construction techniques or solutions to specific problems. For example, recently the builder asked the architect to provide a solution to replace the floor I’ve demolished on the top level. Currently, it’s all exposed old wood beams:

My architect proposed replacing the beams with dimensional wood joists to ensure they are all exactly level. But I didn’t like the idea of getting rid of the old beams—nor did I want to add to the cost and work for the builder.

I asked Claude what solutions they would recommend to construct a flat OSB subfloor on top of old beams that aren’t level. Here’s how it replied:²

Based on the technical documents provided and your situation, I'll help you create a flat, even surface for the OSB floor installation while working with uneven vigas (wooden beams). Here are the recommended methods:

1. Leveling Strips (Primary Recommendation):

• Install wooden leveling strips (also called shims or battens) perpendicular to the existing vigas

• Use a laser level to determine the highest point of all vigas

• Cut custom-thickness strips to bring all lower areas up to the same height as the highest point

• Secure the strips to the vigas using appropriate screws or fasteners

2. Joist Sister System: Based on the technical project documents, which show the structural importance of these vigas, you could:

• Install "sister" joists alongside the existing vigas where needed

• Cut the sister joists to the proper height to create an even plane

• Secure them firmly to the existing vigas with structural screws

• This method also adds structural reinforcement, which aligns with the project's focus on maintaining structural integrity

3. Self-Leveling Option: Looking at your project documents, particularly the section discussing the terrace area (002.009), you could:

• Install a lightweight concrete leveling layer

• This approach is already being used in parts of your project

• Ensures perfect levelness while adding minimal weight

• Must ensure proper waterproofing and moisture barrier below the OSB

Key Considerations:

• The technical project specifically mentions maintaining the current wooden beams (see demolition specs in EN.100)

• Any solution must not compromise the load-bearing capacity of the structure

• The final floor height must comply with the project's specified dimensions

• Ensure adequate ventilation remains between the vigas to prevent moisture issues

Would you like me to elaborate on any of these methods? Also, what's the maximum height difference between your highest and lowest vigas? This information would help determine the most appropriate approach.

Of course, #1 is what I’d already planned. But it was nice to have other options laid out for me. And the laser level is ready to go.

Obviously, you have to take all construction advice from an LLM with a grain of salt—but in many cases, my use of Claude has given me the language and tools to do deeper better searches elsewhere, such as on YouTube.

AI is good at brainstorming (which I’ll get to more of later), so try asking it for different solutions to problems, and then use those ideas to research elsewhere, or to have a more informed conversation with a contractor.

III. My personal use of AI

AI tools really thrive for a lot of business use cases, but before I get to that long section, I want to list some of the ways I’ve incorporated AI into my daily use:

1. Uploading photos and talking via the apps. Both ChatGPT and Claude are extraordinary at analyzing photos—but that’s only useful in practice if you have the apps on your phone. This has unlimited applications. For starters, I’ve uploaded photos of construction problems in my renovation (“What do you think, should I demolish this cracked concrete, or follow the builder’s recommendation to pour reinforcing concrete over it?”). Or another recent example, when I was trying to change the tire on my Fiat Doblo in Spain. I uploaded this photo to Claude and used the voice feature to ask how to get it off the vehicle:

   

   Here’s the reply:

   I notice this is a close-up image of a spare tire mounting mechanism, likely underneath a vehicle. The image shows what appears to be a tire retaining bracket with a center bolt mechanism and several mounting holes around it. There seems to be some rust or corrosion visible, which might be making removal difficult.

   Most spare tire lowering mechanisms work by:

   1. Inserting the jack handle or special tool through a hole in the bumper or trunk floor

   2. Connecting it to this center bolt mechanism

   3. Turning counterclockwise to lower the spare tire

   However, if you're having trouble, it could be because:

   • The mechanism might be rusted/seized

   • You might need a specific tool that came with the vehicle

   • The release point might be in a different location

   Could you tell me what kind of vehicle this is? That would help me give you more specific instructions for releasing the spare tire. Also, have you located the spare tire removal instructions in your owner's manual? That would be the best place to start.

   The chat went on for quite a while after that. I uploaded more pics as I worked through the process, and asked it more questions. It was like having a mechanic (or my dad) over my shoulder the whole way.